Following a closed-door lunch meeting Wednesday, Politico reported that senators leaving the meeting, who requested not to be named, bashed Cruz for leading the way into the shutdown without a plan to get out.

“It was very evident to everyone in the room that Cruz doesn’t have a strategy – he never had a strategy, and could never answer a question about what the end-game was,” said one senator who attended the meeting, according to Politico. “I just wish the 35 House members that have bought the snake oil that was sold could witness what was witnessed today at lunch.”

Cruz, who led a 21-hour speech protesting the Affordable Care Act last week, is now calling the situation “Harry Reid’s shutdown.”

In response to the criticism from his fellow Republican senators, Cruz told Politico that “It seems that there is nothing the media likes to cover more than disagreements among Republicans, and apparently some senators are content to fuel those stories with anonymous quotes.”

Cruz, who has been outspoken in his disappointment in many of his senate colleagues for not supporting his filibuster attempt, reportedly dodged questions regarding what he would have done if they had supported him.

“He kept trying to change the subject because he never could answer the question,” the senators said. “It’s pretty evident it’s never been about a strategy – it’s been about him. That’s unfortunate. I think he’s done our country a major disservice. I think he’s done Republicans a major disservice.”

While he’s not the most beloved member among the GOP, Cruz is benefiting from a growing grassroots support that see him as a hero fighting for the average American.